Closer Look: The XM-5000Li Electric Moped by X-Treme Scooters
It’s not often that I say something like “Wow” when I look at a scooter or moped. I don’t generally like them. This one is different. The XM-5000Li electric moped has a lot of great features for such a low-priced machine, including a boatload of power. Most mopeds are underpowered little things without much excuse for their existence. Not this one.
The XM-5000Li is all-electric, of course, and has a 5,000 watt rear hub motor, but manages to be very lightweight because of it’s lithium-ion batteries (thus the “Li” in the name), coming in at only 216 pounds total weight. Yet it can carry up to 400 pounds in payload, so two can ride comfortably.
The motor is hub-mounted, so there’s no chain or belt, which is normally the highest-maintenance part on electric scooters of this type. It’s also got ABS braking on both wheels and a maximum range of about 85 miles with a top speed of 60mph. Impressive for such a small machine.
Here’s some more specs:
- 60 Amp/60 Volt/5000 Watts
- Street legal in all 50 states
- 6 month scooter warranty
- 2 year battery warranty
- 1 year motor warranty
Pretty good numbers for something like this. That’s why I said “wow.” I’m not going to claim that this bike will win any design contests for its looks—it’s a moped, after all. I will say that it’s not ugly like most mopeds and doesn’t have the “geek factor” most of them do either. The 21 batteries on this bike are slung low on the frame, offering great stability and a low center of gravity.
Since it’s street-legal in all fifty states, the moped comes with a VIN number on the frame and a license (MCO) for titling in your state. You’ll most likely have to have a motorcycle operator’s license to ride it.
For practicality, the XM-5000Li is pretty good on features too. It’s got a cargo space under the seat that’s about the size of a large sack of groceries and a stable (insulated) kick stand as well. The seat is about 34 inches high and it uses a twist throttle like a motorcycle with an easy-to-read LED dash. The tires are standard moped/motorcycle sized and so are easily found after-market for replacement, if needed. The batteries have a 2-year warranty and will likely last 5-7 years under normal use.
This is a great get-around electric moped with a lot of potential for use in the urban and suburban market. I’m not easily impressed, especially by mopeds and scooters, but this one gets an “A.” Along with it’s little brothers, the XM-3500Li electric moped and the XM-3000 electric moped, the XM-5000Li electric moped is available right now for about $6,000, nationally, through independent distributors as a 2009 model.
Tags: electric moped, electric moped review, electric scooter, electric scooter review, Featured, x-treme scooters, XM-3000, XM-3500Li, XM-5000 Li, XM-5000 Li Review, XM-5000Li, XM-5000Li Electric Moped, XM-5000Li Electric Scooter, XM-5000Li review
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While this Maxi-Scooter offers a lot of value for the buck, it is missing a most important element to be a viable and trouble-free vehicle for the average rider…a battery management system(BMS).
The BMS is critical to protect your expensive Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries from an early death, and the large Xtreme Scooters don’t come with one as of 1/31/09.
Note also the vague claims of ….”maximum range of about 85 miles with a top speed of 60mph”…..these are not at the same time, that is, you will not go 85 miles AT 60mph. You can go up to 60mph with reduced range, or go 85 miles with reduced speeds, but not both at the same time.
I’m not just picking on Xtreme; seems like all the manufactureres/importers make vague speed and range claims, when they should provide a graph of speed versus range for a given weight of driver on flat terrain with no wind, for instance. That or some other standard is what we need so badly to be able to compare vehicles.
Oh, I forgot to mention their website gives a curbside weight of 363 Lbs, not 216 Lbs as stated in the article.
I have their smaller model, the XM-3500Li, and it weighs-in at 280 Lbs or so, so the 500Li has to be heaver.
Perhaps you folks should double-check the makers website before publishing specs?
Anything with Lithium-Ion batteries and no BMS is a costly disaster waiting to happen, and consumer disappointment will be certain, which is bad for the owner, bad for the maker, and bad for the EV movement and industry.
The article was based on the numbers that were given at the time the article was written, which was in December (publishing about a month ago) and have been changed, apparently.
Your comments about a BMS are mostly true, but given that the manufacturer gives a 2-year battery warranty, I wonder at why not having one (listed) here is such a concern for you. Especially since one phone call to X-Treme Scooters relays that there is, in fact, a BMS built into the controller on this machine.
I also note that you pick on this specific product, but do not pick on any others which make similar claims for speed/range. It’s common in the EV industry to take the maximum speed and list that as well as to list the maximum possible range per charge. Similarly, the gasoline vehicle industry lists the MAXIMUM possible EPA ratings for mileage, not the real-world ratings.
The maximum range is almost always a product of the middle speed of the vehicle, under optimum conditions. In this case, the 85 mile range is likely at around 30mph. The average rider will not likely go faster than 35-40mph for most of their driving anyway, since scooters are not often considered “freeway vehicles” by their owners. I would personally see freeway driving on a scooter to be nothing short of a death wish.
Oh, ya, as a tribute to X-Treme, I’ll note that they answered the phone on the third ring on a Sunday afternoon.
I waited for months for the xm-5000li. It arrived damaged and scratched and does not come close to the power and speed they claim. This is a huge rip-off from a company that hypes all of their cheap junk. Stay away from x-treme and all of their products.
Rick, thanks for your comment. I’ve heard both good and bad things about X-Treme and their products, namely that certain products are cheaply made and that a lot of orders are damaged in shipping. It is my understanding that they’ve radically improved their shipping procedures, and they have also begun to offer a satisfaction guarantee - you can return an X-Treme Scooters product within 30 days and get your money back. This speaks a lot about their intentions for this year - they are trying to change their image as a purveyor of crappy products. I can’t say I blame them, and only time will tell if they can turn around the crappy public perception of their products…
Maybe I’m fighting a losing battle here - but this is a scooter is NOT a “moped”.
Is a comparably performing Vespa ever called a “moped”? Is a Piaggio ever called a moped”?
Any scooter/motorcycle that has pedals (they are optional on this model) is a MOPED, since that is the definition of what a moped is. Technically, electric bicycles could be considered this, though a “moped” is generally not able to be powered by pedals alone, only augmented or controlled.
The XM-5000Li does NOT have optional pedals. It is not a moped. It cannot be pedalled. It liekly requires a motorcycle operators’ license–just like larger scooters and motorcyles.
Only one picture has a 5000li in it. All the other pictures appear to be of the 3500li.
The “amps” figure given is incorrect.
A “BMS” usually means individual cell protection, not Pack-voltage “management” where it is possible that out-of-balance cells (there are usually some) may be damaged and limit the performance, speed, or range of the EV.
The 5000li does NOT have this kind of BMS. However, the “smart” charger, taylored to the TS cells, attempts to make up for the lack of a “proper” BMS.
One person said they had been waiting for “months” for delivery of a 5000Li, but they have only been available since mid-December 2008 and are in stock for shipment in a day or two. Mine arrived via UPS Freight (with NO damage) in a short time.
With the addition of a “real” cell-based BMS (and LVC), this looks like it will be an excellent bike.
No, in spite of the “Moped” name, it is NOT a moped. There are NO pedals of any kind.